Niagara - Decew House Heritage Park (31.2 km) to Swayze Falls (43.8 km) - March 3rd, 2022.

Our "Hiking with Friends" group returned to the Niagara section of the Bruce Trail again this past Thursday to enjoy the winter beauty of Short Hills Provincial Park. We conquered 12.6 km of the main trail in about 3 hours and 45 minutes while climbing a decent, but not entirely leg sapping, 241 meters (confirming that the hills in this area are aptly named?). We began at the parking lot at historic Decew House and finished up at Swayze Falls, with just a short side trail left to access our (dropped) cars at that parking area.

The bird's eye view of our route (from a northerly perspective)...I enjoyed this hike for its varied terrain, beauty, and very minimal road walking. I hope the pictures in this blog do it justice!

Our three "trailhead" cars have arrived at Decew House parking lot (you may recall that this same lot was unplowed and inaccessible back in early January and forced us to amend our hike that day), and the group attends to donning backpacks, icers, and the necessary accoutrements to ensure warmth and safety over the next few hours of activity.

Our 10 person crew this chilly March morning included myself, Arpi, Sandra (sweep), Annette, Doug (contributing photographer), Marleen, Muris (kneeling contributing photographer), Brian, Steve (leader), and Barbara. Our group photo is being taken at the First Nation Peace Monument. Designed by world renowned architect Douglas Cardinal, the memorial celebrates reconciliation with First Nations people and is intended to to generate a deeper understanding of the important role First Nations peoples played in the forming of Canada. It was unveiled October 7th, 2017.

Time to get the legs moving and hit the trail...we start out our journey travelling along the shore of the channel that connects Lake Gibson to Lake Moodie, which in turn feeds the Decew Falls Generating Station.

We emerged from a protected area to experience the harsh early morning icy wind along this exposed stretch. The escarpment forest beckons us with shelter in the distance...

Ice pancakes have formed on the lake...just in time for maple syrup season?..

We approach the holding pens of the Decew Falls Generating Station, recognized as the oldest continually running hydroelectric power station in Canada. We could all use a little extra juice to help us get to our destination!

We've reached the escarpment forest and its welcome protection from the nasty wind...no fear, the day will improve as the March sun climbs higher in the sky..

After a short break, we encounter this magnificent tree poised on the edge of the cliff...even without foliage, it is spectacular...

A nice view over the vineyards of Niagara and then it's down an escarpment switchback into the valley of 12 Mile Creek...

This tree, snapped off its base, has refused to go down without a fight, propping itself up beside its former anchor in some sort of grand defiance...time will tell...

More "switchbacking"...I don't like "looking down" on other hikers, unless it affords a good camera angle!..

We have reached the valley floor...the trail meanders beside the creek for a ways...

...until, that is, we have a bridge to cross...

And not just any bridge..."The Bridge at Laura's Crossing" was installed in May 2013, and officially dedicated on June 22nd, exactly 200 years to the day after Laura Secord's momentous 32 km trek through war-ravaged countryside to warn Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon of an impending American attack. She had to wade across this creek; now there's a dedicated hiker!..

This little guy was enjoying a nice outing...love the red outfit...

Brian examines some odd reinforced concrete wheel shaped objects...

Which soon drew a crowd...we could not come to a consensus as to what they were used for...perhaps some sort of abutments?...anyone know?

We cross over First Street Louth (I thought this was a misprint of "South" but Louth, taken from a location in England, is actually the largest community in St. Catharines)...

...and officially enter Short Hills Provincial Park.

Brian watches as Muris appears to be attacking Steve with a large tree...

The snow pack varied quite considerably on this hike....sometimes virtually none, to areas (mostly north side of hills) where there was still a decent amount...I felt this would likely be our last real "winter hike"....but we'll see.

The sun is out, it's warming up, and we are in full stride now...

Up we go...out of the valley...

And then along a small ridge...I now "look up" to hikers, as I should...

We pass through one of the more open areas of the park...

We ford a small stream...

Huffin' and puffin' our way to the top...

We pass by one of the main parking areas and hook up with The Rim of Africa Friendship portion of the trail which was created in 2014 and recognizes its affiliation with a unique mountain trail and conservation initiative at the southern edge of Africa in the Cape Mountains.

The trail then veers right and begins to follow the north side of Terrace Creek...

We reach beautiful, mostly frozen Terrace Falls...

Needless to say, we have arrived at the perfect spot to rest and refuel...helped by Arpi's delicious carrot cake!..

In our happy place...

Time to get back at it...a few more kilometers await...

A left turn and we are on our way to Swayze Falls...

We are a bit more exposed to the elements but the sun is doing its job...very little snow left in this area...mud season is not far off...

We travel under the hydro corridor again...these lines originate at the Niagara Falls Hydro complex and run all the way to Hamilton and beyond...

Our last climb of the day...we can do this!..

We reach Swayze Falls...no sign of Patrick however...

A bridge (which we didn't have to cross...this week) has been damaged from ice and a fallen tree, which put a good size hole in the decking...hopefully it gets repaired soon...

We have taken the short side trail to the parking lot where we left our other cars earlier...a great hike completed...thanks for letting us share our enjoyable day with you...the "long and short" of it anyway...

The End